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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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Canto 3 · The Status Quo · 33 chapters

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
  2. 2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
  3. 3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
  4. 4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
  5. 5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
  6. 6Write down what touched you. Note the main points in your own notebook.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 3 · Chapter 21: Conversation Between Manu and Kardama
3.21.193.21.21

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.21.20

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The great sage Kardamasince 3.21.13inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

नैतद्बताधीश पदं तवेप्सितं

यन्मायया नस्तनुषे भूतसूक्ष्मम् ।

अनुग्रहायास्त्वपि यर्ही मायया

लसत्तुलस्या भगवान् विलक्षित: ॥ २० ॥

naitad batādhīśa padaṁ tavepsitaṁ

yan māyayā nas tanuṣe bhūta-sūkṣmam

anugrahāyāstv api yarhi māyayā

lasat-tulasyā bhagavān vilakṣitaḥ

Translation

My dear Lord, although it is not Your desire, You manifest this creation of gross and subtle elements just for our sensual satisfaction. Let Your causeless mercy be upon us, for You have appeared before us in Your eternal form, adorned with a splendid wreath of tulasī leaves.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa Mercifully Calls Us Back

  1. 1

    The material world is manifested through the Lord’s external energy because living entities want sense enjoyment. Those eternally engaged in loving service have the eternally existing spiritual world.

  2. 2

    Although the material world is dangerous at every step, Kṛṣṇa allows living entities to try to enjoy it. At the same time, He appears personally and sends reliable servants to instruct them.

  3. 3

    Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, calls living entities to return to Him and surrender. He promises protection from sinful reactions to those who surrender to Him.

Key points from the purport
  • It is clearly stated here that the material world is not created by the personal will of the Supreme Lord; it is created by His external energy because the living entities want to enjoy it.
  • Kṛṣṇa is so kind that He allows the sense-enjoying living entities a separate world created by Him to enjoy as they like, yet at the same time He appears in His personal form.
  • Therefore the last instruction of Bhagavad-gītā is this: “Give up all your manufactured engagements in the material world and just surrender unto Me.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

How it feels

Longing and service → Preparedness. Family devotion turns toward higher spiritual fulfillment.

Chapters 20–24 of Canto 3: Kardama, Devahūti, family and renunciation. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 21: Conversation Between Manu and Kardama

Kardama performs penance, receives the Lord’s blessings, and welcomes Manu, who travels with his wife and daughter.

Back to this verse in chapter 3.21
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. nanot
  2. etatthis
  3. bataindeed
  4. adhīśaO Lord
  5. padammaterial world
  6. tavaYour
  7. īpsitamdesire
  8. yatwhich
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 3.21

    In this verse: “mercy”, “causeless”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 3.21

    In this verse: “material”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 3.21

    In this verse: “dangerous”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Where am I seeking independent enjoyment rather than shelter in Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Read the Lord’s instruction to surrender quoted in this purport, then offer a prayer asking to follow it.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Mercifully Calls Us BackThis verse's lesson: one practice and one question for today

Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 3.21.20? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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